Albany Devils' notes: First goal comes from unlikely source

Ben Thomson gets first-period score en route to shutout victory

Published 12:02 am, Friday, April 21, 2017

Albany Devil John Queenneville handles the puck during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Albany Devil John Queenneville handles the puck during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Photo: Eric Jenks

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Albany Devil Brian Gibbons handles the puck while being pressed by Toronto Marlies' Seth Griffith during the game Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Albany Devil Brian Gibbons handles the puck while being pressed by Toronto Marlies' Seth Griffith during the game Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Photo: Eric Jenks

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Albany Devil Brian Gibbons handles the puck while being pressed by Toronto Marlies' Seth Griffith during the game Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Albany Devil Brian Gibbons handles the puck while being pressed by Toronto Marlies' Seth Griffith during the game Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Photo: Eric Jenks

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Albany Devils celebrate after a successful goal during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Albany Devils celebrate after a successful goal during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Photo: Eric Jenks

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Albany Devil John Queenneville makes a shot on the goal during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Albany Devil John Queenneville makes a shot on the goal during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Photo: Eric Jenks

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Albany Devil Blake Coleman looks for an opening past Toronto Marlies' Rinat Valiev during the game Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Albany Devil Blake Coleman looks for an opening past Toronto Marlies' Rinat Valiev during the game Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Photo: Eric Jenks

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Albany Devil Carter Camperhandles the puck during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Albany Devil Carter Camperhandles the puck during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Photo: Eric Jenks

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Albany Devil John Blake Pietila takes a shot on the goal during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Albany Devil John Blake Pietila takes a shot on the goal during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Photo: Eric Jenks

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Albany Devils celebrate after a successful goal during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Albany Devils celebrate after a successful goal during the game against the Toronto Marlies Thursday April 20th, 2017 at the Times Union Center. Photo by Eric Jenks

Photo: Eric Jenks

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The back of Albany Devils captain Rod Pelley's T-shirt displays one of the slogans the team is using for their playoff run. (Pete Dougherty / Times Union)

The back of Albany Devils captain Rod Pelley's T-shirt displays one of the slogans the team is using for their playoff run. (Pete Dougherty / Times Union)

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Albany Devils captain Rod Pelley dons a T-shirt displaying one of the slogans the team is using for their playoff run. (Pete Dougherty / Times Union)

Albany Devils captain Rod Pelley dons a T-shirt displaying one of the slogans the team is using for their playoff run. (Pete Dougherty / Times Union)

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Albany Devils' notes: First goal comes from unlikely source

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Albany

The game's first goal proved to be critical Thursday night as the Albany Devils and Toronto Marlies began their American Hockey League playoff series, and it came from an unlikely source.

Ben Thomson, who has 20 goals in 213 career regular-season AHL games, got the Devils going late in the first period with a shot from the left point. Albany went on to a 3-0 victory and leads the best-of-five series.

Thomson, who plays on the fourth line, was covering for defenseman Seth Helgeson, who had pinched in to get involved in the offense.

"Helgy made a good play," Thomson said. "He pressured the guy and pick-pocketed him pretty much. I saw him go down, so I knew I had to cover for him. When he went down, the forward shrunk a little bit, so I was open. He made a really good pass to me, and I just found a lane."

More Information

AHL playoffs

Devils vs. Toronto Marlies

(Devils leads series, 1-0)

Thursday: Albany, 3-0

Saturday: at Albany, 5

Wednesday: at Toronto, 7

April 28:* at Toronto, 7

April 29:* at Toronto, 7

* — if necessary

Having defensively conscious forwards is part of the Devils' mantra, especially in playoffs.

"We want to activate our D," Devils coach Rick Kowalsky said, "but we want to make sure they're supported when they do get low. He gets back there. The puck comes back to him. He's able to get the shot. (Blake) Coleman may have tipped it, but we got good net-front presence."

Playing second fiddle

When the Devils and Marlies met in last season's quarterfinals, the Canadian media coverage was, let's say, significant.

Two Toronto papers sent reporters for the games in Albany, and there were nearly 20 media members covering home games. The Marlies last year were the only pro team in Canada — NHL or AHL — to play in postseason.

With the Marlies' parent club, the Toronto Maple Leafs, engaged in an NHL playoff series with the Washington Capitals, the media focus has shifted.

"It is a different feel because of that, the Maple Leafs having the success that they are," Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe said. "There are so many young players that have had success there, it's a different feeling.

"Within our group it feel similar coming into the playoffs, the confidence that our team has, and what our expectations are individually and collectively as a team. We can't really control all the stuff that's happening outside, but within the group, it's a similar feeling that you get when the playoffs come around."

T-shirts made to order

Captain Rod Pelley has revealed the team's slogan for this season's playoffs: "Man Camp," which is printed on T-shirts distributed to team members.

The back of the shirt has a secondary slogan: "Pull the rope." The Devils have a large, thick rope in the middle of their locker room, and the message is that the team needs to come together in order to pull the rope.

"Everyone was pulling the rope and did a good job," rookie John Quenneville said after the Game 1 victory.

Itches and scratches

Because of their roster size, the Devils had to scratch 15 players for the opener.